Pope Francis has said he is considering a visit to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in what would be the most high-profile visit by a world figure since Russia invaded the country.
The head of the Catholic Church was invited by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the city’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko on March 8 along with Ukraine’s religious leaders.
At the time of the invitation, the Vatican had acknowledged receipt of a letter saying the Pope was praying for the Ukrainians, but made no mention of travel plans.
But when asked by a reporter on the plane that took him from Rome to Malta on Saturday if he was considering the invitation, Francis said: “Yes, it’s on the table.” He didn’t give any details.
The invitation of Ukrainian political leaders was supported by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Byzantine Rite Catholic Church of Ukraine and Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican Andriy Yurash.
Francis has previously called Vladimir Putin’s war “unjustified aggression” and denounced the “atrocities” but was careful not to mention Russia’s culpability in the war.
On Thursday, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, met Zelenskyy in Kyiv to convey the message that the EU will help the country to rebuild after the war.
However, the most spectacular visit to date was made on March 16 by the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. In a press conference after the meeting, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Ukrainians: “Europe is behind you.”
Pope Francis, 85, visited Malta on Saturday for a two-day trip to draw attention to a migration crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.
After landing, he used an elevator for the first time to exit the ITA aircraft onto the tarmac. He also sat in his popemobile during a tour of the island’s capital, Valletta. Francis has been suffering from a painful knee infection for months.
More than 10.5 million people have been displaced either within Ukraine or abroad as refugees, representing about a quarter of the country’s population. An estimated 13 million people across the country are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Metsola met Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki with Ukrainian refugees on Saturday morning at the Otwock School in Warsaw.
She said: “We are impressed by the efforts of Poland, its communities and citizens. You have given people in need a safe place. It’s heartwarming to see – it’s the best of Europe.
“However, outside of Ukraine, Poland bears the greatest burden of the consequences of the war. That is why we need more support for Poland and other countries that host and take in people fleeing the war in Ukraine.”